In my last post I wrote about replacing a cake binge with a fruit fest. It got me thinking about the power of swapping rather than stopping.
How many times has Cynthia the PA said she was going to stop eating biscuits? Or your mate said he was going to stop having a kebab after the pub? Or your sister said she was going to stop watching all the soap operas?
Stopping is hard- swapping is easier.
Your mate would be better off vowing to have a chicken shish kebab, which after all is just grilled chicken and salad (my local kebab man knows that he’s not to give me the pitta bread even if I beg- it’s a comedy act that’s lasted 7 years, but he never once has done.) So he’s still getting something to quosh his munchies, but not doing his weight any harm.
Your sister would be as well finding something else to do with the many hours she spent each week in soapland, something she’s always wanted to try. Or films she’s always wanted to see. With no plan to replace them, she’ll soon be back in the Queen Vic watching someone else’s disastrous wedding reception.
And Cynthia will never avoid the biscuit tin without a replacement- perhaps her old Hob Nob for an Almond Thin- surprisingly similar in taste but less than a quarter of the calories.
Sometimes the swap is more realistic than the stop. You’ll be able to keep it up longer, feel less deprived, and might even find you like the new thing more.
Tags: BMI, diabetes, diet, eastenders, eat, food, health, healthy, help, journey, life, lifestyle, male diet, male weight loss, men, slimming, soaps, swap shop, TV, waist, weight loss
